–
the birth of the St. Catharines Athletics Lacrosse Club (one year
after the formation of the St. Catharines Lacrosse Club). The team is
brought into existence through the efforts of the Citizens Hose
Co. (a volunteer fire dept.), and would play their first game on
Wednesday November 7th, a 2 - 0 loss to
the St. Catharines Club. A year later, the A's and the St. Catharines
Club would merge under the Athletics banner. For the
first six years the A's would play their games at the old fairgrounds
that were once located at the southwest corner of Russell Avenue and Catherine
Street.

– the center section of the grandstand at the fairgrounds collapses
at a game versus the Beaver Indians and causes injuries to a number of
spectators, the most serious being a broken leg to a Mrs. Cruikshank.

1880

– a
Civic Holiday double-header hosted at the fairgrounds between
Athletics I vs. Clifton and Athletics II vs. Thorold is refereed by
world champion oarsman and Canadian sporting legend Ned Hanlon. The
St. Patrick's Brass Band and Hanlon's boat and championship trophies
were at the grounds to add to the draw.

1881

– the Athletics adopt light and dark blue as their team colours. As part of U.S. Fourth of July celebrations, the Hydrant Hose
Company #1 of Lockport, New York offer a silver-plated teapot to the
victors of a lacrosse exhibition between the Athletics and the Echoes of
Hamilton, Ontario. The A's return home with the spoils of the day and the
prize is then passed down through the family of player James Adie to the
present day.

"The
Agricultural Grounds presented a gay appearance yesterday, the games of
the Caledonian Society and Lacrosse Club being the attraction. From the
number of people on the grounds, we should judge that the interest in
athletic sports is not on the wane in this city. At 1:30 o’clock, the
XIX Batt. Band marched the Athletic and visiting Brantford Lacrosse Clubs
on the grounds." The St. Catharines Journal (July 1881)

"Though the
Athletics were unsuccessful, the general verdict was that their playing
was a decided improvement over that with the Paris Club on the 24th
of May. We advise our boys to practice more of the “drop shots” on
flags and do less unnecessary running." The
advice offered by The St. Catharines Journal after a loss to
Brantford at the fairgrounds. (July 1881)

1883

– the opening of the Athletics Lacrosse Grounds (1st game
June 8th). This facility (affectionately nicknamed "the old corner lot")
featured a covered grandstand on one side of the field and
bleachers at both ends. The Athletics defeated the Mechanics 3 to 1
(with "Zip" Carlisle scoring two) to claim the city championship and a silver cup in that first game at
the new lacrosse grounds. The double-blue Athletics would often play to
capacity crowds over the next 25 years and were the source of great
pride for the citizens of St. Catharines.

1885

– the game undergoes a popular boom in St. Catharines when the
Athletics win the Southern District championship from the Brants of
Paris. The A's are reported in the Montreal Gazette to have organized
and instituted "ice lacrosse" in the winter of 1885 with
"six-man teams of reds and blues, played games which were won
by the latter club 2 - 1 and thus were Canada's first known
organization to play lacrosse on skates as well as on the natural
field of emerald turf."

"The
appearance of the Irishmen on the field was the signal for hearty cheers,
which the visitors acknowledged. The different stores in the city had all
agreed to close at noon, thus giving their employees an opportunity to
attend the game." The touring Irish lacrosse team play the
Athletics before 2,500 appreciative fans in St. Catharines. The
Thorold Post (August 1886)

1887

– the Toronto Lacrosse Club's breakaway from the National Amateur
Lacrosse Union leads to the formation of the Canadian Lacrosse Association.
The Athletics become charter members of the new league. Later in the
season, the Ontarios protest a loss to the Athletics over the use of
an alleged professional player named C. Lynden. Lynden files a sworn
affidavit of his amateur status to a C. L. A. judiciary committee
meeting at the Rossin House (Toronto), but to further questions as to
what he was paid for expenses to go to St. Catharines, Lynden states
that he could not remember.

1889

– the
A's are Canadian Lacrosse Association champions. The team posts
an undefeated record in their own league and a 2 win,
1 loss record in exhibition
games against N. A. L. U. competition.

1890

– repeat as Canadian Lacrosse Association champions, beating out the Toronto
Capitals on August 18 to clinch the title. St. Catharines mayor
McIntyre is president of the Athletics lacrosse club.

1891

– the new C. L. A. champions from Niagara Falls refuse to grant the Athletics
a title match after the A's default a game in the "Cataract
City" in mid-season.
The A's continue to practice for four weeks after their last match and
send repeated appeals to the C. L. A. to force the game, but the
league upholds the "Niagaras" position.

“Never
did the Athletics' grounds present a prettier picture of the popularity of
lacrosse than they did today when the Athletics and Cornwall teams
appeared. The open grand stand and the covered and temporary stands were
filled with ladies, while the available standing room was occupied by
gentlemen from all quarters of Western Ontario.” The
Toronto Globe (July 1891)

1892

– Athletics are "blacklisted" for the year by the C. L. A. for their
refusal to reimburse "expenses" of $30 to the Niagara Falls Lacrosse Club after a
no-show in a 1891 game at the "Niagaras" home grounds. Team
members then show up in the lineup of other clubs; brothers George and John Downey
plus Alec Chaplin in Orillia, John Notman and Bill Yielding in
Stratford, and "Ruby" Williams along with Harry Morton in Niagara Falls.

1895

“The
match was witnessed by quite a large number of spectators despite the
threatening weather and the crowd was quite impartial in distribution of
applause. Any clever work on the part of any player got him a round of
applause.” The Toronto Globe (June 1895)

"It
was like old times to see the lacrosse grounds thronged as they were
Monday afternoon. It carried one's thoughts back to the good old days when
"Doc" Collins, Jim Chaplin, Yielding and the other stars were
the pets of the grand stand." The St. Catharines Daily Standard
(June 1895)

“The
band afforded some amusement by their frantic efforts to get away from the
ball and players when they came in their direction.”
The St. Catharines Daily Standard (August 1895)

1896

"The
referee ordered 'those four men who were fighting' to leave the field. But
its difficult to tell which man is which when all are in uniform and the
referee couldn't pick them out, so the game went on." The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (June 1896)

"Just
as soon as play begins some one in the front row stands up, then the whole
row follows suit and those behind, to see anything, have to do likewise.
Everyone could see just as well and with more comfort if they remained
seated." The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (June 1896)

1898

– goal
nets replace poles in the Canadian Lacrosse Association.

"The
posters advertising the match said 'two hours play, rain or shine,' and
the spectators could not understand why the (Montreal) Shamrocks left the field
before the two hours were up. But this was the arrangement as to the time
made on the field, and the visitors were quite justified in stopping. The
crowd didn't understand it and yelled and hooted the visitors, who had
difficulty in understanding what it was all for." The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (July 1898)

"The
Athletics are developing a system of signals similar to those made use of
in Rugby football games. Such a system if perfected will cause a
revolution in the national game."The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (August 1898)

1899

– A’s suspend operations for one year shortly after a particularly violent
game against the Orangeville Dufferins draws the ire of fans, press and
the local judiciary. John "Shooty" Richardson is given a
lifetime suspension by the Canadian Lacrosse Association (rescinded in
1902) and in a St. Catharines courtroom, a $25 fine for common
assault.

"The
referee was asked to stop the match but whether from fear or otherwise,
blew his whistle and ordered play to proceed." The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (July 1899)

“When
young men play games like this, if trouble occurs, they ought to try to
keep it out of the police court.” Police Magistrate
Comfort at the St. Catharines police court of July 31st hearing of
charges against John Richardson and Bill Harris of the A’s, and the
Orangeville Dufferins Fred Dowling.

“The
assault was to my mind most brutal and uncalled for and one that will cast
a disgrace upon the club to which you belong. Whatever roughness may have
developed on the field, there was no reason for roughness after the game
was over. I will impose upon you a fine of $25, together with the costs of
the prosecution, and you will remain in custody until the same is paid.” Judge Collier in
sentencing John Richardson after a jury brought in a verdict of guilty of
common assault in December 1899.

1901

– the A’s return and deliver once-again, “fast, clean lacrosse”.
They make it to the Globe Shield finals before losing to the
Orangeville Dufferins in a match played before a capacity crowd at the
Toronto Island grounds.

"The
game in St. Catharines received a blow some time ago, which it took some
time from which to recover, and uncalled for roughness is not tolerated on
the St. Catharines team to-day."The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (July 1901)

"St. Catharines has had many lacrosse teams
playing under the cognomen of Athletics, but never was any of them as well
balanced as the winner of '01."The
St. Catharines Daily Standard after a 16 - 1 victory over the
Manchesters of Galt (July 1901)

“Wm.
Lang of St. Paul Street on Saturday hoisted his handsome set of colors
after the lacrosse match and in the evening fired a salute of 21 guns in
honor of the victory.” The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (August 1901)

“After
months of hard, up-hill fighting, the lacrosse team has stepped up to the
top rung of the ladder and just at the last minute made a misstep and
fallen off.”
The A's lose by 7 - 5 to Orangeville in the C. L. A. final. The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (September 1901)

“Well!
Well! Now we can settle down to business again and get in the hay.”
One unidentified supporter quoted in
The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (September 1901)

1902-4

– a period of
growing lacrosse enthusiasm in St. Catharines, fueled in large part by a
hotly contested rivalry with perennial C. L. A. champions from Brantford. The
games against Brantford would long be remembered as the most
passionate contests for players and fans alike.

"At
the lacrosse tournament on Saturday, E. Poole, the well known photo
artist, arranged the 18 players who competed together with
representative heads of each factory. In addition those in a
portion of the large open grandstand were caught, in all over 100
faces appear in the picture, nearly all of whom can be readily
recognized."

The
St. Catharines Daily Standard, September 22, 1902

special
thanks to Dennis Gannon

“Several
local men are receiving requests from outside teams to join them for the
season, but so far none have succumbed to the wiles of the tempter. This
season St. Catharines wants the championship and every local man is needed
to win it. It is to be hoped they will remain loyal.” The St.
Catharines Evening Star (April 1902)

"A
good crowd will take the (special train) excursion to Oshawa on Saturday. One factory will
shut down altogether, and there are others who will take advantage of the
cheap rate to take the trip."The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (June 1903)

"Saturday's
defeat should do Brantford good, although it's a little pill to
swallow. There has been too much self-horn blowing in the
"Hello" town. Such a defeat is a great head reducer."The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (June 1903)

"Kalls,
the youngster, is a regular find, and he should very soon be among
the best in the game. He was really the most aggressive man on the
Athletic home, but he tries a little too much dodging where a pass
would be more beneficial."17-year-old
George Kalls breaks into senior lacrosse and draws accolades from The
Brantford Expositor (June 1903)

“Policemen
were on the field and St. Catharines people called for Hendry's
immediate arrest.” Brantford's Tack Hendry gives the A's
Billy Elliott a bloody nose and incenses the 800 St. Catharines
supporters who followed the team in ten train cars to Brantford.The St.
Catharines Standard (August 1903)

"That
Kalls, the youngest lad playing senior lacrosse, should be so
maimed is really shameful. Neeley has always had the reputation of
playing clean, but...it looks very much as though Neeley was at
least intentionally careless."
Hall-of-Fame bound George Kalls draws extra attention in a rough
game played in Brantford. The
St. Catharines Standard (August 1903)

"The
crowd had not forgotten their little catch phrases of "kill
him","cut him" etc., but such yells were for the
most part confined to some of the more enthusiastic youths, and it
was not at all uncommon to hear them severely reprimanded by their
elders for engaging in such barbarous language." Comment
in The
Brantford Expositor after a game in St. Catharines in
September 1903.

"It
has happened. It
will go down as the greatest day in St. Catharines in the history of
lacrosse.” The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (May 1904) after the A's open the
season with a victory over rival Brantford.

"A
game that was a most magnificent one and brought visitors from
many places at a distance, several being present from Niagara
Falls, Hamilton, Toronto, Buffalo, and Chatham, in addition to
about 450 Brantfordites. In short, it was one of the greatest
games ever seen in the country.” More exuberance from
the
pages of The
St. Catharines Daily Standard after a 2-all tie
was played out versus Brantford at the St. Catharines Lacrosse
Grounds in June 1904.

“There
was a dispute, and in the delay, many spectators went onto the field.
Numerous vigorous demonstrations were made against Jack, and the
Athletics' players surrounded him to protect him against possible violence
by the enraged spectators.”Referee Hugh Jack is
poorly treated at the Lacrosse Grounds after calling back a game-tying
goal by the A's Eddie Hagan in a match with the Tecumsehs. The St.
Catharines Daily Standard (July 1904)

"He
was in the way of the ball on nearly every occasion; and he had a
great supply of luck, too; balls hit his body and head - every
place but the net.” Athletics
shooters are frustrated by goaltender Hutton of Brantford in
September 1904 as reported in The
St. Catharines Daily Standard.

"The
fence jumpers were on hand as usual, as well as the knot-hole
rubbernecks.” Some
of the regular spectators at the Lacrosse Grounds continue to
avoid admission prices. The St. Catharines Standard (September
1904)

1905

– A’s win their first of eight consecutive Globe Shield
championships (Ontario Senior). The team imports future Hall-of-Fame goaltender
Corey
Hesse,
defensive specialist Don Cameron (both of Cornwall) and the former
Tecumseh's star, centre James "Grassy" Forrester (Fergus).
The A's travel to Montreal to play the N. A. L. U. champion
Shamrocks for the Minto Cup (lose in two).

"'His certificate will be here
tomorrow.' Words and music by Corey Hesse, sung with great success by
the management of the Athletic Lacrosse Club, St. Catharines. The above
popular ballad that has been breathed into the ears of enquiring
worshippers of the game here by the new management committee of the local
club...the clever little goal tender has signed
with St. Catharines and will play with the Athletics for 1905." The
St. Catharines Daily Standard (May 1905)

"And
the home is entirely home-brewed. But it is the lightest and cleverest
that the Garden City has turned out in recent years. They play well out in
the field and come in with a rush, crossing and re-crossing the field in a
style well calculated to mix-up a defence." The Toronto
Telegram (May 1905)

"To
who's address shall we send the Globe Shield?" Quote from a
Brantford Lacrosse Club official reported in The St.
Catharines Daily Standard (August 1905)

"If
St. Kitts were ever to get that Minto boilerplate over to the corner lot,
wouldn't there be a nice time getting it away from them? It would be just
about the same proposition as getting the Stanley Cup out of Ottawa.”Quote
from Joe Lally (Cornwall) reported in The St.
Catharines Daily Standard (August 1905)

"It
rained almost every day we were away and we went on the field for the
second game about as useless a bunch as you can imagine."
A's player Eddie Hagan quoted in The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (September 1905)

1906

– the Athletics press
member teams of the C. L. A. to adopt a 60 - 40, home - visitor split
of gate receipts. This compels the two Toronto franchises, the
Torontos and the Tecumsehs, to jump to the National Lacrosse Union
(who have now formally dropped the word "Amateur" from their
title). After the Brantford Seniors fold, the C. L. A. suspend senior
operations for the year and the Athletics are left without opponents
to play.

"St. Kitts unintentionally did the lacrosse
world a whole lot of good. They forced the Toronto clubs into the N. L. U.
and the result is the greatest lacrosse union Canada has ever known. This
knowledge must give St. Kitts a lot of satisfaction."The
Toronto
Telegram (June 1906)

"So
St. Kitts can’t stand the strain any longer. The Old Boys must have
senior lacrosse of some kind, no matter what it costs. Perhaps even now
they are sorry that enlarged heads made them try to dictate terms to the
other senior C. L. A. that disposed of that organization far more
effectively than all the proposed amendments that ever came before the C.
L. A. convention."The
Toronto
Telegram (June 1906)

"As
the smallest child already is aware, senior lacrosse is as necessary in
St. Catharines as is rain to the farmer."The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (June 1906)

1907

– goaltender
Corey
Hesse returns for one more season in St. Catharines and
nineteen-year-old Billy Fitzgerald electrifies the crowds at the
"old corner lot" as the Athletics go 12 - 0 in Canadian
Lacrosse Association action.

"It
seems a pity that the C. L. A. senior series should be so weak-kneed as to
admit St. Kitts to the fold at this late date. It is time the sulkers on
the Welland Canal were taught a lesson. They make more trouble than all
the other teams in the C. L. A. combined." The Toronto Telegram
(April 1907)

"AT
THE GAME BETWEEN THE BUFFALO AND SAINT CATHARINES TEAMS: TRYING TO
BLOCK THE BALL"

The
Buffalo Illustrated Express, July 21, 1907

"...almost
two thousand persons started in pursuit of the team. When the
bridge was reached, the Chief (of Police) and his two men jumped
from the bus and instantly took up their positions at the approach
to the bridge, drawing seven shooters which stared the mob in the
face as they continued in their mad flight." The St.
Catharines Daily Standard reports on the police protection
afforded the Athletics as they are chased by an angry mob to the
Brantford train depot in August 1907.

1908

– the Athletics field another very strong team and defeat the N. L. U.’s Torontos and
Tecumsehs. The
Montreal Shamrocks informally agree to play the Athletics for the
Minto Cup once they have completed their games with Vancouver. But
Vancouver wins the two games in Montreal and takes the coveted
silverware to the west coast where it would reside until it became a trophy
for the Canadian junior lacrosse champions in 1937. The A's late 1908
challenge to Vancouver for a Minto Cup showdown are denied. In
October, A's goaltender Frank Dixon plays for the gold medal winning
Canadian national team at the London summer Olympics.

"The
team held a meeting the other night and agreed to cut out beer and
cigarettes till after the games are over." The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (August 1908)

“Five
hundred sat down to a banquet in King’s Hall, Holburn. After the toast
to Canada, the lacrosse team rose and sang “The Maple Leaf” and
Manager Foran responded in a brilliant speech.

" Goaltender
Frank Dixon of the Athletics and the Canadian National team
recalls some of his experiences in England during the London
Olympics for The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (November 1908)

1910

– after claiming their sixth Globe Shield by winning both ends of a
home and home playoff against the Young Torontos, they are given a
late night welcome home with a wild celebration and parade through the
city’s downtown streets. The A’s are then denied an opportunity to host the first Mann Cup
championship over allegations of professionalism. The C. L. A.
runners-up Young Torontos, despite the protests of their own league,
host the contest and become the first holders of the golden trophy.

"St.
Catharines was all expectant this afternoon to find out the result of the
game at Toronto. Hundreds of telephone calls were received at the Standard
office asking about the score and a large crowd waited for the bulletins."The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (September 1910)

"There
was great cheering as the team and their supporters marched from
the station to the conveyances consigned to them.
Secretary-Captain McIlwain and President W. J. Lee took seats in
the mayor’s carriage. In a few minutes the parade started on its
route through the streets, which were lined by cheering thousands."The
Athletics are given a late night welcome home after claiming the
C. L. A. title in Toronto. The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (September 1910)

"In
half an hour after starting, the parade arrived at Shipman’s
Gore where it halted, and Mayor McBride rose in the carriage to
speak. He could not do so for a few minutes on account of the
vociferous cheering. When quiet was obtained he said:......"
St. Catharines Mayor McBride prepares to address the gathered
crowd at a late night Athletics' victory celebration. The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (September 1910)

"The
Athletics of St. Catharines won their series with the help of players who
could not qualify as amateurs in competition for the Mann Cup."
Quote from the Mann Cup Trustees reported in The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (October 1910)

1911

– plans underway to send the A’s to Stockholm to represent Canada
at the 1912 Olympics. This is dashed when lacrosse is dropped from
Olympic competition.

"That
St. Kitts is the greatest lacrosse town in the world, and produces more
real lacrosse players, is being demonstrated every year. We grow them
here, and have done so for over a quarter of a century." The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (June 1911)

"Neither
Vancouver not Toronto showed the snap that has for years marked St.
Catharines as an A1 lacrosse team, and it is a pity that the Garden City
boys will have no chance to demonstrate their right to the Mann Cup."
The Toronto Mail and Empire (October 2011)

1912

– the A’s are in decline with the loss in recent years to the N.
L. U. of players of the stature of George Kalls, Billy Fitzgerald,
Freddie Stagg, Pete Barnett and Willie Hope, but succeed in winning
their eighth Globe Shield. They travel to Vancouver in October to
challenge for the Mann Cup but are resoundingly defeated. The Mann
challenge, hoped to resurrect flagging fan support, may have
contributed to just the opposite.

"The
Sir Thomas Mann Gold Cup is fulfilling the purposes of its donor. A team
of Canadians from the Niagara frontier is to cross the continent to meet a
team of fellow Canadians on the Pacific slope." The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (September 1912)

"Personally
and officially I, with all citizens wish you every success. We know you
will do your best." Telegram from St. Catharines' mayor W. H.
Merritt as reported in The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (October 1912)

"Come
on boys, remember old club, old town and old victories." Telegram
from former club officials Joe Timmons and Fred Beard as reported
in The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (October 1912)

"They
have strengthened greatly since they were east. They are heavy and
fast."A's
player Frank Dixon quoted in The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (October 1912)

– A’s fail to defend their championship and the Globe Shield goes
to the Brampton Excelsiors. The A's travel to Chicago in
September to play a post-season exhibition game against the Calumets
at Comiskey Park.

"The
players are a younger crowd who are playing the self same game which
brought fame to the Garden City; but the crowd! Oh, where have they gone
to? No, it is not there, filling every inch of space as of yore."The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (June 1913)

1914

– the A’s drop to Intermediate (Senior "B") for one
season while the popularity of lacrosse diminishes everywhere in the
months heading into the Great War.

"There was little lacrosse to yesterday’s
struggle. Rather it was the case of earnest effort to see which players
could qualify for action in the present war." The Athletics lose
in a roughly played Senior "B" final against the Toronto
Maitlands played at Hamilton's Britannia Park. The Hamilton
Spectator (August 1914)

--
JUNIOR CHAMPIONS - ATHLETICS --

On
September 28th, the Junior Athletics claim the Ontario title with
a 12- 7 win over Bracebridge in a one-game final played in
Newmarket, Ontario. "The St. Kitts team and supporters
arrived home at 3:45 Sunday morning and even at the late - or
early - hour, some lacrosse fans were on hand to receive them and
bore the visitors in triumph to their homes." The St.
Catharines Standard (September 1914)

1915

– the Senior "A" league is reduced to just two teams (Torontos and Athletics).
The A's register a 0 – 2 record.

1917

– the Athletics travel to Chicago to play a benefit game against the
Calumets at Weegman’s Park (to be renamed Wrigley Field in 1926).
The game raises thousands of dollars to supply cigarettes to the
American soldiers fighting in Europe. The team returns home to a
storm of controversy after the Calumets use two professional players
(ex-A's George Kalls and Billy Fitzgerald) to bolster their roster, "tainting" the A’s now amateur status.
Original Athletic James Adie receives the news of the loss of
21-year-old son Allan at the World War 1 Battle of Passchendaele. In
1918, the Adies would then lose sons Archibald and John while they
served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Europe.

"As
far as the Athletics are concerned over their playing against Fitzgerald
and Kalls, they are justly proud of having had the opportunity of doing
so." Athletics secretary Bert Gadsby quoted in The
St.
Catharines Standard (August 1917)

1918

– pro stars Billy Fitzgerald and George Kalls return home and put
together a classy Athletics team in the dream of reviving interest in
the sport (suffering not only in St. Catharines but in most of the
former lacrosse hotbeds since the start of the First World War). All
hopes of a championship (even a challenge for the Minto Cup) end with
a late season injury to Fitzgerald.

"The
old-time fans sat up, took notice and said 'It's the real thing; when's
the next game?' "The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard (July 1918)

"It
was a treat to hear the Toronto fans cheer Fitzgerald and Kalls when they
time after time performed some of their lightning moves." The
St.
Catharines Daily Standard after the Athletics play the Toronto
Maitlands at Cottingham Square (July 1918)

1919

– many
of the Athletics are suspended by the Ontario Amateur Lacrosse
Association for playing with and against professional players in 1918.

1920

– the
main grandstand at the lacrosse grounds is destroyed by fire.

--
JUNIOR CHAMPIONS - ATHLETICS --

The
Junior Athletics defeat Hanover by the scores of 21 - 2 and 6 - 5
in a home and away Ontario final. "It was an enthusiastic
multitude that welcomed home the conquering heroes of the Young
Athletics lacrosse team, junior champions of the O. A. L. A. The
station was practically blocked with autos, the platform was one
huge wedge of people, and when the train pulled in, the cheering
was tumultuous." The St. Catharines Standard (October
1920)

1921

– Athletics
return to Ontario Senior competition.

"And
regarding (John) Richardson, the old fans heaved a sigh of regret when they saw
him work his old-time blocking tactics and quick recovery of the ball. The
remark was heard here and there over the bleachers with shakes of the
head: 'We’re not turning out players of that type and caliber any
more.'" Report from the Oldboys' Lacrosse Game in
The
St.
Catharines Standard (July 1921)

--
JUNIOR CHAMPIONS - ALERTS --

The
Alerts of St. Catharines go undefeated for 1921 and capture the
Ontario crown with a final win over Hanover. "A bit of
excitement was caused near the dressing room when some over
zealous fan from Hanover tried to hit Brookland over the head with
a megaphone. Sergt. Brett galloped to the scene and restored peace
before the melee got beyond bounds." The St. Catharines
Standard (October 1921)

1922

– the fabled Athletic Lacrosse Grounds, affectionately known as the
“old corner lot,” are torn down to make way for the construction
of a high school. The city promises to build a new stadium as the A’s move into their “temporary” home at
the unfenced Thomas Street sports field.

1923

"Henry
O’ Loughlin recalled old lacrosse days in the Garden City in 1876 when
he and J. S. Carlisle entered the game and thought that if lacrosse were
taken out of his life there would not be much left in it."
Former
Lincoln County Sheriff O' Laughlin speaking at a Welland House
banquet for the touring Oxford-Cambridge university lacrosse team.
The
St.
Catharines Standard (August 1923)

"
One of the nicest goals of the game was one made by Pearson when he
intercepted a pass near his own goal, made a pretty run the length of the
field, passing a couple of players and scoring on a one-handed shot." Future Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson scores one of
his seven goals for the touring Oxford-Cambridge university team
in a match with the Athletics at the Thomas Street Grounds. The
St.
Catharines Standard (August 1923)

1924

– the A’s field the strongest team in years but are fined and have
a win overturned by the O. A. L. A. for the playing of Percy Oille.
Oille, who played junior and senior for years in St. Catharines, is
claimed to be ineligible under the “non-residence” ruling. The
management of the Athletics suspect back-room politicking and fold the
team in protest.

"It
has been difficult for the Seniors to get much practice together this
week. Most of them are on teams in the City League, and played Tuesday and
again last night." The
St.
Catharines Standard (May 1924)

"A
fence will be erected across the field so as to keep the crowd back, for
on Saturday last they over-ran the field and it was difficult for the
players when the ball rolled among the spectators."The St.
Catharines Standard (May 1924)

1926

– the great Billy Fitzgerald dies of peritonitis at the age of 38 and a benefit
game for his family featuring the stars of yesteryear is played before
a large crowd in St. Catharines. Fond memories are rekindled and many
begin to clamour for the return of the “famous Athletics.”

"There
were three players who stood out in the last years of professional
lacrosse in Canada. They were Fitzgerald, Newsy Lalonde and Charlie
Querrie. Fitzgerald had the lacrosse brains of Querrie and Lalonde, and he
had the speed that was denied them." The
Toronto Mail and Empire (May 1926)

1928

– the St. Catharines Athletics return under the sponsorship of the
local Taylor & Bate brewery and post a 10 win - 9 loss record in
the five team senior O. A. L. A.

1929

– the winless T&B Athletics fold in mid-season after management
decides that they can't "maintain the prestige of St. Catharines
from a strictly amateur standpoint." The
last senior field lacrosse team is fielded by the St. Catharines Athletics L.
C.

"The
writer feels this as a personal loss, as we evinced a great liking for the
team, every one of them." Sports
columnist Clayton Browne in The St.
Catharines Standard (June 1929)

1932

– a lacrosse “cushion” is built at the Thomas Street sports
field to support the new game of box lacrosse. In subsequent years it
would be expanded, play host to pro wrestling, concerts,
roller-skating (when paved) and above all, countless minor, junior and
senior lacrosse games. It would eventually take the name of Haig Bowl
(after a street bordering it) and would exist in various rebuilt
forms until 1973.

--
JUNIOR CHAMPIONS - ATHLETICS --

The
A's emerged as the champions of the city junior box lacrosse
league before rolling past Niagara Falls, Fergus, Harold Ballard's
Toronto Sea Fleas and finally the Cornwall Nationals to claim the
Iroquois Cup. "Many a light sparkled in the eyes of grey
and bent lacrosse veterans whom their memory recalled similar
events of yore as St. Catharines and its suburbs turned out in
large numbers on Saturday night or Sunday morning to pay due
respects to a team that had lived true to its famous double blue
colours." The St. Catharines
Standard (November 1932)

1933

– the St. Catharines Sr. Athletics return, but now to the new game of box
lacrosse. They play in a newly formed O. A. L. A.
"International district" (senior "B") with Port
Dalhousie, Brantford,
Ohsweken and Rochester, New York.

1934

– the Athletics secure a spot in Group 2 of the O. A. L. A senior
"A" circuit and the lacrosse box is enlarged to a seating
capacity of 1,000 with the addition of two new bleacher sections on
the south side of the "cushion".

"The
Athletics traveled one thousand miles this year to play eight games out of
town and five cars made each trip. In addition to the players, Coach Herb
Millar, Manager Jack Manning and President Dan Millar are to be
congratulated for their work." The
St.
Catharines Standard (August 1934)

--
JUNIOR CHAMPIONS - ATHLETICS --

With
the financial support of millionaire spark-plug developer (and
one-time St. Catharines resident) David Bloss Mills, the Athletics
claim another Iroquois Cup title after a final win in Cornwall. "Thirty
Garden City fans who came by private motor, bus, truck and freight
train helped swell the number of spectators who watched the game
played under flood lights at the athletic park here." The St. Catharines
Standard (October 1934)

1935

– Irv Lounsbury returns to the Athletics after his indefinite
suspension for professionalism was lifted by the O. A. L. A. Lounsbury
had played for the Montreal Maroons of the International Pro Lacrosse
League in 1932 and was rumoured to have taken part in a professional
game in Pittsburgh in 1933.

"The
memory of the late Frankie Williams, one of the original wearers of the
double blue, crested with the familiar 'A', will be honored tomorrow when
the fans and players alike observe one minute's silence before the game
starts." The
St.
Catharines Standard (June 1935)

--
JUNIOR CHAMPIONS - ATHLETICS --

With
eight future Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Famers in its line-up, the
Jr. Athletics of 1935 go undefeated on the year culminating in a
25 - 7 win over Mimico in the Iroquois Cup final. "It was
unfortunate that the deciding game had to assume such lop-sided
proportions." The St. Catharines
Standard (October 1935)

The
Jr. Athletics of 1936 would actually absorb the team's
first loss in three seasons with a crushing 21 - 8 beat-down to
the Toronto Marlboros at Maple Leaf Gardens in their playoff
opener. But the team would bounce back to take the series 2 games
to 1 before cruising on by Orillia and Cornwall to close out what
had become a junior lacrosse dynasty. "Their victory
column (championship titles) has only been eclipsed by
Toronto Beaches with five wins during 1915-6-7-8-9 and matched by
Toronto St. Simon's
in 1923-4-5 and Toronto Irish Canadians in 1926-7-8." The St. Catharines
Standard (October 1936)

– The Parks Board spends $1,492.98 to increase the seating capacity
of the Haig Bowl to 3,825 and install a comfort station.

"The
officials of the Athletics Lacrosse Club wish to express their
appreciation to Charles H. Smith and Son, proprietors of Sunshine Dairy of
this city for the donation of the 1938 jerseys to the senior team. The
club is supplying the silk 'panties' to complete the outfits. St.
Catharines is one of the smartest-appearing clubs in the senior O. A. L.
A." The
St.
Catharines Standard (May 1938)

– the Athletics win their first Mann Cup by defeating the New
Westminster Adanacs 3 games to 0 in matches played at Maple Leaf
Gardens. 12,000 fans greet the Mann Cup champion A's upon their 1 am
return from Toronto on a cool, damp October weeknight. A's radio
announcer Rex Stimers becomes an impromptu M. C. at a gathering in front
of radio station CKTB after a parade through downtown St. Catharines.
Population of St. Catharines in 1938: 25,000.

"After
missing one game, Morton begged Coach Brown to let him back in there. His
pleas were answered, and he has starred in the last two victories." The
St.
Catharines Standard (September 1938)
after two cracked ribs briefly sidelined
scoring ace Roy
"Pung" Morton.

"When
you have players possessed of the shooting ability of 'Bucko' McDonald,
Bill Brunskill, and 'Onions' Smith blazing them at you from a few feet
out, one is really on the spot, but Billy time and again came through with
marvelous stops." The
St.
Catharines Standard (September 1938)
on
the goaltending heroics of Bill Whitaker in the Ontario finals
against the Orillia Terriers.

"If
he could play hockey as well as he plays lacrosse, we'd sign him on the
spot for $20,000." The
St.
Catharines Standard (October 1938) prints
quote from Toronto Maple Leaf general manager Conn Smythe about
Pung Morton.

"It
is St. Catharines' first Mann Cup and the elation of Garden City sportsmen
today will know no bounds." W. T. (Tommy) Munns, The Toronto
Globe and Mail (October 1938)

"Congratulations
are offered the club and the players, not forgetting the Garden City
itself for being one of the oasis in the lacrosse desert when Canada's
national game seemed doomed to extinction." J. P. Fitzgerald, The
Toronto Telegram (October 1938)

"The
Athletics are the fastest team ever to step on a lacrosse field. They play
with their heads as well as their sticks. To my mind they are one of the
greatest teams lacrosse ever produced." St. Catharines First
United Church Rev. F. S. Dowling (and turn-of-the-century
Orangeville Dufferin), The St. Catharines Standard (October 1938)

"A
former great team in St. Catharines won eight amateur Ontario
championships, but the present day team is among the greatest yet."
Turn-of-the-century Athletic Frank McIllwain,
The St. Catharines Standard (October 1938)

"Teachers
as a rule like to boast a bit about their old pupils who become
distinguished. Many of the Athletics were my pupils. Honestly I cannot
help blowing about them and telling people that several of them went to
school to me, although I never taught them lacrosse."Principle
A. E. "Scout" Coombs of the Collegiate Institte,
The St. Catharines Standard (October 1938)

photo
courtesy of John Sheehan

1939

– the Haig Bowl is expanded to 4,200 seats making it the largest
outdoor lacrosse stadium in the world. Fans still line up three hours
before game time to get a seat.

"It
is hard to stop a team which sends out reserves equally as fast as the
fellows they are replacing. It is this sustained speed which has spelt
'finis' to the Athletics opponents for the past two years." Toronto
Maple Leaf owner Conn Smythe, in The St. Catharines Standard
(September 1939)

– Carl Holger Madsen is named league MVP.

"Captain
Madsen has never been guilty of rough tactics or poor sportsmanship and it
is with the greatest pleasure that I present the Murphy Memorial Trophy."
O. L. A. President Russell T. Kelly, The
St. Catharines Standard (September 1939)

– A’s travel to British Columbia to defend their Mann Cup title but lose to the
New Westminster Adanacs
in three games. A reported 8,000 well-wishers greet the team on their
arrival back home and the erupted festivities rival that of the
victory celebration of a year earlier.

"The
management of the McKinnon - Columbus Chain Co. of this city have
courteously granted leave of absence with three weeks full pay to all
members of St. Catharines senior Athletics in their employ."The
St. Catharines Standard (September 1939)

"Well
over 5,000 sports and citizen public jammed the C. N. R. station in a
throng that held the New York flier six minutes behind schedule, as
players were forced to crowd their way through ranks of admirers."
The
St. Catharines Standard (September 1939)

"They
were all pleased to meet me as I was to meet them."1880 Athletic K. J. Johnston meets members of the
1939 Athletics as they stop-over in Winnipeg, Manitoba during their trek to
the west coast.The
St. Catharines Standard (September 1939)

"Roy
"Punk" Morton received a wire just before game time that he was
the daddy of a baby girl." The Vancouver Sun (October 1939)

"Billy
Fitzgerald is a spitting image of his dad, who played for Con Jones'
Terminals in 1911. But young Fitzgerald spent eight minutes in the cooler
last night, and most of his time on the floor slapping wrists with Ken
Matheson . . . No dividend in that."The
Vancouver Sun (October 1939)

"St.
Catharines were I'll-see-you-round-the-corner mad when they came into
their dressing room last night at the Forum. The easterners were not so
angry at being beaten, but they had it for Ken Matheson of the Adanacs.
One is inclined to believe that they'll be "gunning" for Ken
before the series concluded."The
Vancouver Sun (October 1939)

"St.
Catharines were a wet bunch of rags at the final whistle. They were still
in the thick of the verbal argument, my, yes, but their parched tongues
hung down almost to their shoestrings. They simply couldn't stand the
Adanac pace."The
Vancouver Sun (October 1939)

"It
is a saddened St. Catharines and joyous New Westminster today. Our gallant
Athletics gave every ounce of everything they had in the futile effort to
retain the battered mug." Sports columnist Clayton Browne, The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1939)

"We
can take the bitter with the sweet." St. Catharines Mayor Charles
Daley,The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1939)

1940

– Athletics win second Mann Cup, beating the Vancouver Burrards in
four games at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens.

"Family
expenses of members of the champion A's will be considerably lightened
this week and following as they are dined and feted right and left." The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1940)

1941

– Athletics win third Mann Cup, beating the Richmond Farmers 3 games
to 2 in B.C. In the deciding game, centre Joe Cheevers fills in for
injured goaltender Bill Whittaker in the Athletics net. Art Brown
retires as coach of the A's, later to become president of the O. L. A.
and eventually the C. L. A. president as well.

"I
must be getting old or this traveling doesn't agree with me. I never did
like trains anyways." Veteran player Bill Wilson as reported in
the Vancouver Sun (October 1941)

"Gol
darn it. I read the rule book through and through yesterday and they don't
call it the way I read it." Veteran
player Bill Fitzgerald Jr. as reported in the Vancouver Sun
(October 1941)

"Well
men, win or lose we go home Tuesday evening and I think it would be much
nicer to take the Mann Cup with us." Athletics
Coach Art Brown as reported in the Vancouver Sun (October 1941)

"Indicative
of the St. Catharines spirit was goalie Bill Whittaker who was smashed
full on the nose with a terrific shot by Bill Lee. Whittaker retired to
the dressing room for first aid, came back with some adhesive plaster on
his bloppy schnozzola and continued to stonewall the Farmers' offerings."
The
Vancouver Sun (October 1941)

"
'You get a receipt from the Red Cross for that pint?' someone yelled."
(to Bill Whitaker upon his return to the floor). The
Vancouver Sun (October 1941)

"Thought
Fitzgerald suffered the worst slashing of the game when he was cut across
the back of his legs from behind . . . but the referees accepted it as
routine checking." Sports Columnist Hal Straight in
The
Vancouver Sun (October 1941)

"After
the final whistle both teams circled in the centre of the floor and shook
hands, making one think of a Frat house reunion or visiting Rotarians . .
. They pulled some form of strip tease by exchanging sweaters."
Sports
Columnist Hal Straight in The
Vancouver Sun (October 1941)

"There'll
be a hot time in the li'l ol' town of St. Catharines Saturday night."Homeward-bound
Bill Fitzgerald Jr. at the Vancouver train station as reported in
the Vancouver Sun (October 1941)

"They
defeated a good team and two so-called referees." St. Catharines
radio station CKTB sports announcer Rex Stimers (October 1941)

"Fire
siren stop poles along St. Paul Street screamed for several minutes, horns
honked, celebrants waved and shouted and noise-makers of all sorts were
effectively used in the celebration which continued from shortly past 10
o'clock to nearly midnight." The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1941)

"It
isn't every night that we can welcome the Athletics home with the Mann
Cup. But it sure seems like it."
Unidentified street celebrant as reported in The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1941)

"They
have brought more glory to St. Catharines than any other organization that
ever existed." Dominion government wartime
production executive Harry J. Carmichael as reported in The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1941)

1942

– Bill Wilson semi-retires and becomes coach of the Athletics.
George Urquhart (Navy) and rugged Roy "Bun" Barnard (Army)
become the first to leave the Athletics for the military. A united
Mimico and Brampton team form the hybrid "Mimico-Brampton
Combines" and dethrone the Athletics as Mann Cup champions. An
Athletics-Combines game in the Ontario finals drew 3,080 fans to the
Haig Bowl in September. Carl Madsen is added to the Combines' line-up
for the Mann Cup finals to give "Gus" three Canadian titles
in a row.

1943

– Bill Wilson stays on as the team's player-coach while nearly half
of the double-blue roster joins E. H. Lancaster's 10th Battery reserve
unit. Jack "Wandy" McMahon and a young Bobby Thorpe leave
St. Catharines for the Number 24 Basic Training Centre in Brampton and
spend the summer playing lacrosse for the army-based Brampton Bullets in the
senior O. L. A. Roy Barnard and Bobby Melville are both wounded while
serving with the Canadian Army fighting in Italy.

1944

– George Cleverly becomes coach and a depleted and injury-prone Athletics team win
their fourth Mann Cup, beating the New
Westminster Salmonbellies 3 games to 2 in games played in Toronto and
Hamilton. The A's executive battle unsuccessfully with the C. L. A. to
allow a Mann Cup game to be played at the Haig Bowl. The wild
celebrations of earlier Mann Cup wins is notably absent as the team
returns home from Hamilton to a quiet and sleeping St. Catharines.

"We
did not travel 3,000 miles to play on a dirt floor. Moreover, we hear the
fans down there send up a barrage of stones at visiting goalies. It is
final, definite and irrevocable - our team will not go to St. Catharines
for a game on Thursday." New Westminster
Salmonbellies coach Jack Wood as
reported in The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1944)

"What
started out to be a double-blue team comprised entirely of Garden City
players, found the dubious Saints executive adding the services of Bill
Isaacs, Whoopee Arthurs and Scoop Hayes."
Frank "Piper" Bain writing in the Orillia News-Letter (October
1944)

1945

- A’s travel west to defend Mann Cup title but lose to the Vancouver
Burrards in three games. Goaltender Bill Whitaker is named league MVP,
but later is banned from C. L. A. play after striking referee Jimmy Gunn
at the Mann showdown. Joe Cheevers suffers a broken leg in a
motorcycle accident while serving with the Canadian Army in Germany.

"We'd
say the presence of Billy Nelson of the R.C.A.F. had a lot to do with the
win, along with navy men Spark Urquhart and Billy Mackie." The
St. Catharines Standard (June 1945)

"Saturday
night's celebration of "Whittaker Night" at Haig Bowl was only
half a success. The 1,000 payees were grimly disappointed that they did
not see "Big Bill" Whittaker presented with the Jimmy Murphy
Memorial Trophy, as the MVP of all the 1945 crop of stylists. Reason for
that was the inability to locate the trophy." The
St. Catharines Standard (August 1945)

"The
skeptics will tell you here today that they "told you so" and
the die was cast when Saints elected to take all those aging vets along
and string them into action." Sports columnist Clayton Browne, The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1945)

1946

- Athletics win fifth Mann Cup (the second for Cleverly as coach), beating the New Westminster
Salmonbellies 3 games to 0. Goaltender Doug Favell Sr. is named Mann Cup
MVP.

"We
let too many loose men skip around the floor for easy goals." New Westminster
Salmonbellies coach Jack Wood as
reported in The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1946)

"Those
Athletics were deadly in on the finish and a fine team - I'd say they were
better than when they beat us two years ago." New Westminster
Salmonbellies coach Jack Wood as
reported in The
St. Catharines Standard (October 1946)

"Favell,
a Royal Canadian Navy lookout for three years, dived from his net to the
edge of the crease, leaped into the air on countless occasions and was
struck twice in the head with the ball as he played faultlessly in the
cage of the new champions."
The Montreal Gazette (October 1946)

1948

- Jack "Wandy" McMahon coaches a strong Athletics team but
are upset in the Ontario semi-finals by an underdog Hamilton Tigers
squad that features St. Kitts' expatriots Joe Cheevers, Doug Favell,
Tom Teather, Tony Capula and Barney Welch. The Tigers go on to win the
Mann Cup in 1948 and 24-year-old Favell wins his second Mann Cup
series MVP award.

1949

- the team's top three scorers from 1948 (Jim McMahon, Stu Scott, and
Bill Nelson) are each suspended by the O. L. A. for the entire 1949
season for playing winter lacrosse in Rochester, New York. New rule
changes move the nets out to 12 feet from the back boards and this
permits players to run behind them. 20-year-old Jerry Fitzgerald
completes his fifth and final season with the senior Athletics as he
joins the growing exodus of St. Catharines' players transferring to
Peterborough.

Jeremiah
"Jerry"
Fitzgerald

Canadian
Lacrosse Hall of Fame

"The
boys went to Owen Sound short handed when some A's reneged. That forced
Coach Jack McMahon to hop back into squad togs and they did not fit any
too well."The
St. Catharines Standard (May 1949)

1950

– Joe Cheevers becomes the coach while WWII "Devil's
Brigade" veteran Pat Smith is voted captain. Average regular season attendance drops below 1,000 but the team
manages to draw capacity crowds at the Haig Bowl for playoff dates
against Hamilton and Owen Sound. The A's go to the seventh game of the
Ontario finals before bowing to the eventual Mann Cup champions, the
slow-moving, ball-control oriented Owen Sound Crescents.

"Harry
Wipper, long-geared Athletic defenseman, started the Saints away with one
of his typical "away from home" performances. Running miles and
hawking every loose ball within reaching distance, Wipper was almost a one
man show." The
St. Catharines Standard (September 1950)

"If
it possible at all, Harry Wipper will be flown in from McGill
"U", for there'll be no seventh start if A's slip and slump here
tonight. It just takes 120 cash fare to pay his plane trip home and back,
but is it ever worth that to Athletics." The
St. Catharines Standard (September 1950)

"Who
said lacrosse was declining in our Garden City? Surely not after that
splendiferous gathering of the Haig Bowl last night." Sports columnist Clayton
Browne after 4,000 attend an A's playoff game. The
St. Catharines Standard (September 1950)

1951

– Joe Cheevers returns as coach but is hard-pressed to replace
youthful 1950 standouts Harry Wipper, Donald "Nip" O'Hearn,
Jim McNulty and Leo Teatro, who have all signed with other teams, as
well as retiring veteran stalwarts Pat Smith, Carson Myers, Frank
Madsen and goaltending legend Bill Whitaker. Whitaker returns just
before the playoffs, but the fourth-place Athletics make a quick
post-season exit.

1952

– Season highlight was a late July exhibition game of the current
A's versus the 1938 - 41 era champions. The 1952 team put together a
19 - 17 win on a night dripping with nostalgia, but the Joe Cheevers'
squad of '52 would be the first A's team to record a losing record
since 1934.

"Like
old man river, he just keeps rolling along. That's Big Bill Whittaker,
plucked from retirement by the persistent talking of Coach Joe Cheevers."
The
St. Catharines Standard (May 1952)

"Coach
Joe Cheevers, on the prowl for more defence strength, announced this
morning that he succeeded in signing a Hobart University lacrosse star to
a double blue contract." The
St. Catharines Standard (June 1952)

"Sometimes
I wonder why I play this game at all" Athletics player Bill
Bradshaw after a rough night in Peterborough. The
St. Catharines Standard (September 1952)

1953

- The Doug Cove coached Athletics move indoors to the Garden City Arena and
begin to offer more
monetary incentives to attract players. But attendance figures
continue to decline as fans complained of the heat inside the arena and
the team's finances were pushed into the red. On the bright side, A's defenseman Doug Smith is the league’s top
scorer and the team rebounds to a 24 - 6 regular season record, good
for second place behind Peterborough. In mid-season, the rover
position is eliminated from senior lacrosse and the six-man box
lacrosse game is born. Also, the size of the nets are reduced from 4'
6" square to 4' square with the reduction of the number of
players on the floor.

"If
lacrosse doesn't click in St. Catharines this year, the entire subject
might just as well be forgotten" O. L. A. President Art Brown after the Garden City Arena undergoes an
expensive refit specifically for lacrosse and becomes the new home of the
Athletics. The
St. Catharines Standard (May 1953)

"With
the added comfort of Garden City Arena...this should be the year of the
great comeback."Sports columnist Jack Gatecliff in The
St. Catharines Standard (May 1953)

1954

– after playing indoors for better than a
year, the team moves back to the venerable Haig Bowl in mid-season.
The seating capacity of the outdoor facility has been reduced to 2,800.

"The
supporting timbers (of the Haig Bowl), which have been out in the weather for approximately
18 years, have weakened noticeably in the past two or three seasons and to
avoid any possible collapse, the Parks Board is removing the top four rows
of seats" The
St. Catharines Standard (May 1954)

HAIG
BOWL

St.
Catharines, Ontario

photo
courtesy of Bob Luey

"The
shift to the open and clear (we hope) skies should be enthusiastically
welcomed by the fans who have claimed that it is too hot for comfort
inside during the real 'blast furnace' weather." Sports columnist
Jack Gatecliff in The
St. Catharines Standard (June 1954)

1955

– the Athletics return to the Garden City Arena.

1956

– in an effort to regain a
contending team and stop the ongoing exodus of many star players, the Athletics
executive decide they will not release any player from St. Catharines
to other teams. Tony D' Amico opts to sit out the entire season
when he isn't given his release to play for Hamilton. The
"Tank" Teather coached team are bolstered in the playoffs by
a number of talented local juniors and provide a serious but
unsuccessful challenge to the perennial champions from Peterborough in
a roughly-played Ontario final.

1957

– Player-Coach Joe McNulty has a hard time recruiting enough bodies
to fill uniforms on some nights while attendance figures have dropped to
just a few hundred per game (in the early 1940's the team would get
double that number in the stands to watch many practices.)

1958
-59

– the A's move to nearby Welland
and are renamed the Switsons. The team is coached by Carl Madsen and
capture the Ontario crown in its first year in the Rose City, but
fail to win over many fans in its new digs.

1960

– the A’s return to a rebuilt Haig Bowl in St. Catharines and Ron Roy is the league’s
top scorer. Veteran star Jim McNulty returns home from B.C. to play
for the Athletics and Port Dalhousie native son Bobby Thorpe takes
over as coach. Average attendance is a disappointing 400 per game.

"He
worked as hard as anyone out there then stayed out an hour after the other
players had taken their showers, just to improve his shooting."
Tank Teather observation of Jim McNulty. The
St. Catharines Standard (June 1960)

1961

– Gary Moore is the league’s top scorer. Player-Coach Norm
Corcoran and Manager Fred Conradi persuade Jimmy McMahon to come out
of retirement, but after one game and one goal scored, the veteran
star hangs them up for good. Billy Fitzgerald (Sr) is inducted into
the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Old time fans are
saddened in June by the sudden passing of the popular "Ali
Baba", Carl "Gus" Madsen, at the age of 46.

Such boys as
Hopey, Pung and
Fitz

They all could take a
whacking

But back behind they knew for
sure

That Gus would give them
backing

Oftimes from end to end he'd
dash

To treat fans to a solo

Into the nets the ball would
flash

Like a perfect bolo

These boys up front would
play the game

And very seldom falter

For back behind they knew
full well

Was that Rock of Gibralter

The run was short, the game
well played

In life's hazardous bowl

But we that are left know
full well

That Gus has scored his goal

George Ramsay (printed
June 28, 1961 in the St.
Catharines Standard)

"I
was watching a practice the other night and I started thinking that if
Bill McArthur could play for Orillia when he was 52 years of age, there's
no reason I can't when I'm still in my forties." 47-year-old
goaltending legend Bill Whittaker briefly contemplates a return. The
St. Catharines Standard (July 1961)

1962

– Owner-Manager Fred Conradi installs Joe McNulty as coach of the
Senior Athletics. Largest crowd of the season comes in the playoffs
with just under 600 paid at the venerable Haig Bowl.

1963

– Athletics win the Ontario title and play for the Mann Cup but lose to the Vancouver Carlings
in six games. The series is played in Cornwall Ontario.

"If
we didn't think we had a real chance, we wouldn't bother going"
Athletics manager Joe McNulty speaking of his under-dog A's traveling to
the 1963 Mann Cup finals. The
St. Catharines Standard (July 1961)

1964

– local Avondale Dairy become the sponsor of the Sr. Athletics and
Derry Davies takes over as coach. Hard-checking Gary Hind is named league most valuable defenseman.

1965

– Joe Cheevers returns as coach of the Avondale Dairy Athletics. Son
Gerry signs a hockey contract with the Boston Bruins in June and plays
his last lacrosse. But also in late-June, the A's brain-trust of Jim
Lomore/Joe Cheevers/Joe McNulty succeed in persuading long-bomb artist
Gary Moore to come out of retirement and the dangerous two-man scoring
punch of bomber Moore and the smooth-operating Ronnie Roy are
reunited. Helmets become mandatory in the O. L. A. senior series.

photo
courtesy of Keasha Roy and John Sheehan

"I
realize that many of the players are working shifts. I don't expect them
to miss work to play lacrosse. After all there isn't enough money in the
game to put steak or even hamburg on the table. And most of these fellows
are married with families. What I do expect though is that every player
will be out for both home and away games when they aren't working. They
gave me their word they'd honour that commitment before they signed." Coach Joe Cheevers in The
St. Catharines Standard (May 1965)

"I
told them they weren't playing lacrosse, that if didn't want to get out
there and work they might as well pack it up."Coach Joe Cheevers in The
St. Catharines Standard (June 1965)

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

The Canadian Lacrosse
Hall of Fame is created and William J. Fitzgerald and George Kalls
(Field), plus Carl "Gus" Madsen and Bill Wilson (Box)
become charter inductees

1966

– veteran Doug Smith takes over as Player-Coach of the A's after the
team very nearly folds before the season even starts. The A’s
eventually do fold in mid-season due to a shortage of committed
players. Iron-man Ted Howe is named the league MVP. A long and
distinguished era of St. Catharines Athletics lacrosse comes to an
inauspicious end.

"Only
seven players reported to Haig Bowl for the trip to Brampton." Manager
Joe McNulty in The
St. Catharines Standard (July 1966)

"Its
been tough going the past couple of seasons getting enough players out for
home games and almost impossible to field a full roster when we are out of
town." A's
President Jim Lamore in The
St. Catharines Standard (July 1966)

"The
once promising lacrosse season here in St. Catharines is starting to look
like the Merrittville Speedway after a demolition derby." Sports columnist
Jack Gatecliff in The
St. Catharines Standard (July 1966)

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Doug Favell
and Jack "Wandy" McMahon are inducted into The Canadian
Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1967

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Pete Barnett
(Field), Joe Cheevers and Bill Whittaker are inducted into The
Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1968

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Roy "Pung"
Morton is inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1970

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

William
Fitzgerald Jr. is inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of
Fame.

1971

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Fred Conradi
and Rex Stimers (Builders), and Harry Wipper are inducted into The
Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1973

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Jack Gatecliff
(Builder) and Jeremiah "Jerry" Fitzgerald are inducted
into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1974

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Bill Hope
(Builder) is inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1977

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Thomas
"Tank" Teather is inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse
Hall of Fame.

1978

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

George
Urquhart is inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1982

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Doug Smith is
inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1985

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Coridon
"Cory" Hesse (Field) and Jim McNulty are inducted into
The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1986

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

William
"Bill" DeMars (Builder) and Bobby Thorpe are inducted
into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1985-6

– John Mouradian puts a team together, the Merchant Athletics, to play in
the Ontario Senior "A" loop. The inexperienced squad have some
individual standouts such as Jayde Gibbs, Ron Harinch, and Kevin
McNulty, but struggle on the floor and at the box office.

1987

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Ted Howe is
inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1989

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Doug Cove is
inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1997

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Derry Davies,
Robert "Buff" McCready and William "Stu" Scott
are inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1998

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Donald
"Nip" O'Hearn is inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse
Hall of Fame.

1999

– Bill LeFeuvre brings Major level lacrosse back to St. Catharines.
The famous Athletics are reborn and play out of the Jack Gatecliff
Arena (formerly known as the Garden City Arena). Grant Johnston is named league MVP.

"It's
great to have a major team. This community deserves one because it's been
a hotbed of lacrosse for over 100 years." A's
General Manager Bill LeFeuvre in The
St. Catharines Standard (January 1999)

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Bill
"Whitey" Frick (Builder) is inducted into The Canadian
Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

2001

– Goaltender Anthony Cosmo is named league MVP.

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

James
Bradshaw, Jim McMahon and Frank Madsen are inducted into The
Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

2002

– The A's move to the smaller Bill Burgoyne Arena. "Home
brew" Mark Steenhuis is named league Rookie of the Year (shared with
Peterborough Lakers Mike Miron).

"If
things don't turn for the better, it will be our last year in St.
Catharines." A's
General Manager Bill LeFeuvre in The
St. Catharines Standard (April 2002)

"My
heart tells me, 'Yes.'" Athletics
General Manager Bill LeFeuvre when asked if the team will be back
in 2003 in The
St. Catharines Standard (August 2002)

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Pat Smith is
inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

2003

– Mark Steenhuis is named league MVP and the A’s are O. L. A. regular season champions (Lionel Conacher Award).
The Athletics and the Peterborough Lakers engage in an exciting
seven-game, semi-final series that instills a buzz in the local
lacrosse community not
heard in many decades for senior lacrosse.

“A St.
Catharines Flying Club instructor is prepared to fly to Owen Sound and
bring him back.” Athletics
General Manager Bill LeFeuvre speaking of the efforts to bring
home stellar player Pat McCready for a playoff game in The
St. Catharines Standard (August 2003)

“I
didn’t start playing until I was 17. I fell in love with the game and
I’m still learning.” Newly named league MVP Mark Steenhuis in The
St. Catharines Standard (September 2003)

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Ken Croft is
inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

2005

– Matt Holman is named league Rookie of the Year. The 1938 St. Catharines Athletics are inducted into the Canadian
Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the team category.

"Lacrosse
was my love, my passion. All the time, all the years, I never made a
nickel. It was for the love of the sport." Former NHL
goaltender and St. Catharines Athletic Doug Favell Jr. in The
St. Catharines Standard (August 2005)

2006

– before the season start, the team and franchise rights are sold to Al Orth of the KW
Kodiaks and moved to the Kitchener/Waterloo area. Another chapter
closes on the history of the St. Catharines Senior Athletics.

2008

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Al Frick and
Garry Moore are inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

2009

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Johnny
"Gypsy" Mouradian (Field) is inducted into The Canadian
Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

2013

– Ron Roy (Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame) and Billy Fitzgerald Sr.
(Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame & Canadian Sports Hall of Fame)
are inducted into the St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame. The St.
Catharines Saints capture the Canadian Senior B championship.

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Ron
Winterbottom Sr (Builder) is inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse
Hall of Fame.

2014

CANADIAN
LACROSSE HALL OF FAME

Ron Roy is
inducted into The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Special
thanks to the Vancouver Sun and especially the St. Catharines
Standard for their kind permission to use articles, commentary and
photos from their publications for this lacrosse history website.

1905

Something
old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. The 1905 edition
of the St. Catharines Athletics had all of this and something more, a
trip to Montreal to play for the Minto Cup... (READ
MORE)

1918

If the dying
field game was to have a unifying moment of resurgence, let it be here and
let it be now, with our own breakout stars of the past, and with all of the myth
that goes with it...(COMING SOON)

1938

What
was the greatest day in the sport of lacrosse? Well maybe it was one day
long ago when a championship was won and a sleepy town of 26,000 erupted
into a spontaneous outpouring of joy and pride...(COMING
SOON)

OTHER
DIVERSIONS:

(from
photos
by Gary Gardell, athleticslacrosse.com)

THE
"FORT" - FORT ERIE RACETRACK

"Alive
and Kicking" for it's 116th season in 2013

Prince
of Wales Stakes - July 15, 2012

Dixie
Strike with jockey Patrick Husbands claim the second jewel of the
Canadian Triple Crown Classic

Prince
of Wales Stakes - July 30, 2013

Stayer
and closer Uncaptured surges to the lead in the deep stretch for
the $300,000 winner's share